Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser or welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.

Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser or welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.

A method for identifying joining positions of workpieces includes capturing images of a joint by a camera, determining measurement data for the joining positions associated with a course of the joint from the images of the joint, determining a mathematical model of the joint course from a part of the measurement data, providing a curve based on the mathematical model for positioning a welding laser during a laser welding process along the curve.

Methods and apparatus for two-dimensional and three-dimensional scanning path visualization are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a parameter determiner to determine at least one of a laser beam parameter setting or an electron beam parameter setting, a melt pool geometry determiner to identify melt pool dimensions using the parameter setting, the melt pool geometry determiner to vary the parameter setting to obtain multiple melt pool dimensions, and a visualization path generator to generate a three-dimensional view of a scanning path for an additive manufacturing process using the identified melt pool dimensions. The visualization path generator adjusts the laser beam parameters based on the generated three-dimensional view.

A method of processing by controlling one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam may include: launching the optical beam into a first length of fiber having a first refractive-index profile (RIP); coupling the optical beam from the first length of fiber into a second length of fiber having a second RIP and one or more confinement regions; modifying the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam in the first length of fiber, in the second length of fiber, or in the first and second lengths of fiber; confining the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam within the one or more confinement regions of the second length of fiber; and/or generating an output beam, having the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam, from the second length of fiber. The first RIP may differ from the second RIP.

The invention provides an apparatus for creating a hole in a glass container with a medium stored therein, comprising: a laser system configured to focus laser pulses with a wavelength in the ultraviolet regime onto the glass container such as to create a hole in the glass container by laser ablation preferably without creating significant amounts of glass particles inside and outside the glass container.

The invention provides an apparatus for creating a hole in a glass container with a medium stored therein, comprising: a laser system configured to focus laser pulses with a wavelength in the ultraviolet regime onto the glass container such as to create a hole in the glass container by laser ablation preferably without creating significant amounts of glass particles inside and outside the glass container.

A laser crystallizing apparatus includes a first light source unit configured to emit a first input light having a linearly polarized laser beam shape. A second light source unit is configured to emit a second input light having a linearly polarized laser beam shape. A polarization optical system is configured to rotate the first input light and/or the second input light at a predetermined rotation angle. An optical system is configured to convert the first input light and the second input light, which pass through the polarization optical system, into an output light. A target substrate is seated on a stage and output light is directed onto the target substrate. A monitoring unit is configured to receive the first input light or the second input light from the polarization optical system and measure a laser beam quality thereof.

A welding method for welding grouped conductor ends of a component for an electrical machine by means of a welding device. In the method, a relative position of a first conductor end and a second conductor end of grouped conductor ends and then a first size parameter of a molten pool formed during welding are detected. Subsequently, a second size parameter of the molten pool formed during welding is detected. In a further method step, a value of the molten pool is determined from the first size parameter, the second size parameter and the relative position. Finally, a welding energy input is controlled depending on the determined value of the molten pool.

A method and device for producing a predetermined breaking line in a vehicle interior trim part with a scanning laser beam. An actual position of the vehicle interior trim part held in a working plane relative to a laser scanning device is detected by a camera and the actual position of the predetermined breaking line is derived. A stored desired position for a scan figure corresponding to the predetermined breaking line is corrected to an actual position, whereby the predetermined breaking line is produced at a predetermined position on the vehicle interior trim part during scanning of the scan figure. A positional shift of the scan figure becomes possible because a sensor matrix with an upstream diffuser is used, which can detect transmitted components of the laser beam independently of the position of the laser beam along the scan figure.